Parenting Bytes Podcast

Andrea is the co-host of the popular Parenting Bytes Podcast on the CBS play.it network. Parenting Bytes is a weekly podcast and site all about raising the digital generation. From apps and gadgets to sexting, screen time, and other digital dilemmas, we tackle all the issues that parents are facing while raising Generation Z.

Our latest episodes are available on our website and Facebook page, as well as on iTunes. Feel free to pitch a story or product for a segment, or inquire about sponsored segments at abcandrea@gmail.com.

Harvard has rescinded its acceptances for a small group of students who participated in a secret Facebook group full of racist, sexist, homophobic, and downright disgusting memes. Parents everywhere sent the news articles to their teens as a warning, but will kids listen? We dive into an article in the New York Times that explores the secret Facebook lives of teens.

Andrea and Amy are talking with journalist–and work-from-home dad–Chris Morris about gifts, game systems, and the perfect Father’s Day. Plus some other gifts that dads (and our co-host Amy, apparently) will love!

Rebecca and Amy were so excited to talk once again with Sandie Angulo Chen of Common Sense Media, who always has such great book recommendations for teens. If you need books for your kids to read over summer, this is the episode for you!

Rebecca and Andrea are talking today with Kelly Wallace from CNN about the problem of girls’ clothing: why is it so small and tight? Mainstream brands often produce clothing for girls that don’t even comply with school dress codes, so where can parents of tween girls buy clothes online? They’ve got some answers for clothing that is appropriate without going too far in the other direction.

Amy and Rebecca are joined in the studio this week by Anna Fader, Founding Editor and Publisher of the fabulous website Mommy Poppins, who tried nine different meal kits with her family and has a lot to say about them! Are they cost effective? Are they easy? Do they give you enough food? Are the recipes good? Or are they just a waste of money and packaging? We’ll tell you the best options for meal kit food delivery services. Plus our Bytes of the Week!

If Mother’s Day didn’t happen on Facebook did it really happen? Is wishing your mom Happy Mother’s Day on Facebook becoming a replacement for a phone call? Is texting the message OK? Or do you still send an actual card through the mail and pick up a phone?

Plus, what to do if you haven’t gotten a Mother’s Day gift for your mother yet? Here are some last-minute Mother’s Day gift suggestions. And our Bytes of the Week, including a blast from the past and a half-million-dollar contest!

Rachel Dunphy joins us in the studio to talk about two articles she wrote for New York Magazine about families who have gone into the business of vlogging: producing videos with (or of) their children with the goal of making money on YouTube. One family went to such extreme measures to get views that two of their children were taken away this week.

“Hi, this is Heather from account services.” “Hi there, can you hear me? Hold on, I’m adjusting my headset.” “Hello, I’m calling from Microsoft. I need to alert you that you have a problem with your Microsoft computer.” The calls keep coming. Some are recorded, some are actual people. They’re all trying to manipulate you into giving up personal information so that they can steal from you in some way. And even if you know enough not to fall for the scams, the calls are still super annoying! So what can you do about them? Today we talk to Jennifer Jolly, who wrote about this issue for USA Today. She’s got some great tips and apps to block unwanted calls.

There is so much new in store for both Disney parks this summer it’s crazy! Amy just went to a press preview for the new Guardians of the Galaxy ride at Disneyland and Pandora: The World of Avatar at Disney World, which has two big rides and an entire land to explore. Plus Rebecca tells us about her big trip to Japan, and Amy has a lot to say about her Instant Pot.

This week we talk about a genius plan for giving your kids an “out” when they’re in a bad situation: an “X-Plan.” This is a way for your kids to get themselves out of bad situations without losing face with their friends. Talk about this with your entire family, even put it into a contract if that’s how your family operates. Do it today.